i absolutely love the texas chainsaw massacre. that was the most profitable independant film before blair witch.

question: what exactly constitutes a cult film? is it restricted to a low budget movie that a small group of highly devoted fans appreciate? i think my definition may be off quite a bit. btw, i hate rocky horror picture show.

I don't think Cult classics should be reviewed any differently, not from a personal standpoint. I expect a cult film to effect me in the same ways a normal film does. If it doesn't, then, on a personal level anyway, it's failed in my opinion.

Example: Plan 9 From Outer Space. People call it the worst film ever made. From a critical standpoint, it flops in every aspect it's trying for. But, it made me laugh. An awful lot. It was hysterical. Therefore, it moved me in the same way a comedy is supposed to. So, it succeeded, in my mind.

Now, a professional review has every right to point out all the flaws, but from a personal standpoint, it stands complete and should be reviewed just like any other film. Don't watch a cult film expecting anything out of the ordinary.

Is AI considered a cult film? The critic in my newspaper called it beautiful and brilliant. AI is a great film, in my opinion, judged by any standards. So, there you go, no, you shouldn't judge a cult film by a different standard.

I think a cult film is a movie that wasn't made for many audiences but caught the wave of popularity and now everyone loves it.I'll name a few films that are considered cult films...all of which are good

I'm not sure some of these movies you're naming are really cult classics. They seem to have a tremendous amount of respect in Hollywood.

For instance, GoodFellas was nominated for Best Picture among others. Doesn't sound like a small select group to me.

Fast Times at Ridgemont High was voted on of the 100 funniest films ever made by the AFI.

Evil Dead is shockingly respectable at this point, with the AFI counting it one of the 400 most thrilling films ever made.

I don't know, maybe the AFI has a broader view of classic films. While an idividual critic might watch the Evil Dead and see it as cheesy and corny, the AFI as a group can see the broad ranging influences it had on filmmakers like the Coen Brothers and, obviously Sam Raimi, who made it and also the appeal it has to the masses. Did that make any sense?